The Dovells are a musical group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 195… Read Full Bio ↴The Dovells are a musical group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957 that was initially under the name 'The Brooktones'. Remembered for the top 10 pop smashes "You Can't Sit Down" and "Bristol Stomp", the beginning members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff, Jerry Gross, Mike Freda, and Jim Mealey. Initially singing to local student audiences, a version of the group performs to the day.

Their first single was "No, No, No", which was a minor local hit for them as the Brooktones, who soon formally broke up as national success proved elusive. Summers and Dennis left the group, forming The Gems with Mark Stevens and Alan Horowitz in 1960, while the remaining former Brooktones signed to Chancellor Records and added Jerry Sirlin and William Shunkwiler to the group.

Their first hit was "Bristol Stomp" (also known as "The Bristol Stomp"), a dance song followed by the similar hit "Do the New Continental". They released a series of poppy singles over the next few years, facing various levels of success. Len Borisoff left in 1965 for a solo career under the name Len Barry. Having provided staples of oldies radio, the band continued to tour for decades. Interesting, the Dovells notably performed as backup singers, with them being a part of the Chubby Checker hit "Let's Twist Again", and also played for then U.S. President Bill Clinton twice.

HULLY GULLY BABY
The Dovells Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, girl, I love you
What you wanna do
Hully Gully now

I went down to Miami
I met a girl named Sammy
The moon was bright
The time was right

I said, hey, girl, I love you
Oh, what you wanna do

And she said Hully Gully, baby
(Girl, I wanna dance with you)
Hully Gully, baby
(Yeah, come on, come on)

All I wanna do with you
Is Hully Gully, baby
(Aw, come on, work out now)

I spent my dough on Sammy
Hit every joint in Miami
We danced all night
Til dawns early light

I said, hey, girl, I love you
Oh, what you wanna do

And she said Hully Gully, baby
(Girl, let's hit the floor)
Hully Gully, baby
(Yeah, come on, come on)

All I wanna do with you
Is Hully Gully, baby
(Aw, come on, work out now)

Hully Gully, baby

Overall Meaning

The song Hully Gully Baby by The Dovells is a classic example of the American dance-craze songs from the 1960s. It is a love song which tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl named Sammy while he is visiting Miami. The singer expresses his love for the girl and asks her what she wants to do. The girl replies that she wants to hully gully, meaning she wants to dance with him. The singer is more than happy to oblige and the two of them go to every joint in town and dance all night to the song's catchy rhythm.

The lyrics of the song describe the experience of young people in the 1960s, who were constantly looking for new dance crazes to enjoy with their loved ones. The hully gully was one such dance craze that originated in the African American community and quickly became popular among young people all over the US. The song celebrates the joy of dancing and falling in love, which are two quintessential elements of teenage life.

The song has a simple and catchy melody that perfectly captures the upbeat spirit of the 1960s. The Dovells' energetic performance and the song's infectious rhythm made it an instant hit among young people in the US. The song's lyrics inspired many to try out the hully gully dance, which further cemented its place in American pop culture.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, girl, I love you
Addressing a girl and expressing love for her.

What you wanna do
Asking the girl what she wants to do.

Hully Gully now
Suggesting they perform the Hully Gully dance together.

I went down to Miami
Narrating a trip to Miami.

I met a girl named Sammy
Met a girl named Sammy while in Miami.

The moon was bright
Describing the night as bright due to the moon.

The time was right
Indicating that it was an opportune moment to express himself.

I said, hey, girl, I love you
Telling Sammy that he loved her.

Oh, what you wanna do
Asking her what her desired plan of action was.

And she said Hully Gully, baby
Sammy expresses her desire to perform the Hully Gully dance together.

(Girl, I wanna dance with you)
Sammy clarifies her intention to dance with him.